Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Chinese outbound and domestic air traffic activity improved sharply Y/Y in the January-February LNY travel period, but activity remains far below pre-Covid levels</li>
<li>Given constrained outbound air capacity, we're surprised to see relatively low (65-66%) passenger load factors reported by the leading Chinese airlines during LNY</li>
<li>If planes don't begin to fill up with Chinese tourists soon, we believe some investors may become disappointed in the pace of China's travel recovery </li>
</ul>


Chinese outbound and domestic air traffic activity improved sharply Y/Y in the January-February LNY travel period, but activity remains far below pre-Covid levels
Given constrained outbound air capacity, we're surprised to see relatively low (65-66%) passenger load factors reported by the leading Chinese airlines during LNY
If planes don't begin to fill up with Chinese tourists soon, we believe some investors may become disappointed in the pace of China's travel recovery 


TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>On Monday evening in the US, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> reported Q422 results that beat low expectations, but shares in the US traded down about 3% in Tuesday's session</li>
<li>As for guidance, management offered few specifics but noted a sharp improvement in booking activity early in 2023, but also highlighted an outbound capacity bottleneck at the airlines</li>
<li>Just as Covid's negative impacts papered over the secular challenges facing Trip.com, the dramatic near-term recovery in travel activity also obscures longstanding threats</li>
</ul>


On Monday evening in the US, Trip.com (TCOM US) reported Q422 results that beat low expectations, but shares in the US traded down about 3% in Tuesday's session
As for guidance, management offered few specifics but noted a sharp improvement in booking activity early in 2023, but also highlighted an outbound capacity bottleneck at the airlines
Just as Covid's negative impacts papered over the secular challenges facing Trip.com, the dramatic near-term recovery in travel activity also obscures longstanding threats


Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>The Rmb6trn of the new debt swap quota may disappoint the market given the lack of one-time direct stimulus. However, the underlying implications should not be overlooked.</li>
<li>A better balance sheet and savings in interest expenses will free up the resources of local governments, benefiting <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Shanghai has immediately rolled out consumption coupon distribution, which is positive for companies in the restaurant, travel, movies, and sports sectors. </li>
</ul>


The Rmb6trn of the new debt swap quota may disappoint the market given the lack of one-time direct stimulus. However, the underlying implications should not be overlooked.
A better balance sheet and savings in interest expenses will free up the resources of local governments, benefiting China Communications Construction (1800 HK) and China Everbright Environment (257 HK). 
Shanghai has immediately rolled out consumption coupon distribution, which is positive for companies in the restaurant, travel, movies, and sports sectors. 


China & HK Strategy: Stock Ideas on China's Debt Swap Plan

<ul>
<li>September's growth in activity still solid for domestic &amp; international traffic</li>
<li>Golden Week anecdotes suggests Chinese tourists remain active, but frugal</li>
<li>Trip.com has shown stellar YTD performance, but airlines offer more upside</li>
</ul>


September's growth in activity still solid for domestic &amp; international traffic
Golden Week anecdotes suggests Chinese tourists remain active, but frugal
Trip.com has shown stellar YTD performance, but airlines offer more upside


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Still-Solid Growth in September | Consider Airlines (October 2024)

<ul>
<li>By many metrics, Chinese airlines' recent performance exceeds pre-Covid levels</li>
<li>Medium-Term, ongoing int'l recovery and benign fuel prices can boost margins</li>
<li>We believe the airlines could recoup weak relative performance vs Trip.com</li>
</ul>


By many metrics, Chinese airlines' recent performance exceeds pre-Covid levels
Medium-Term, ongoing int'l recovery and benign fuel prices can boost margins
We believe the airlines could recoup weak relative performance vs Trip.com


Rebound in Int'l Demand & Benign Fuel Prices Could Support Recovery in Chinese Airlines' Share Perf

China

Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited operates as an online travel agency. The Company provides transportation ticketing, accommodation reservation, value added travel products sales, and other services. Tongcheng Travel Holdings provides its services throughout China.

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Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK)

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Jan-Feb air traffic shows the beginnings of a recovery in Chinese travel activity, but we're surprised to see outbound flights with load factors of...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

As China emerges from Covid, old challenges remain for Trip.com. After posting solid Q422 results and pointing to signs of a strong recovery, these...

Daniel Hellberg

China & HK Strategy: Stock Ideas on China's Debt Swap Plan

China's new debt swap quota will benefit local governments and infrastructure companies. Shanghai's consumption coupon distribution is positive for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Still-Solid Growth in September | Consider Airlines (October 2024)

Chinese domestic and outbound air travel continued to show solid growth in September and Q3. The airlines have managed capacity restoration well...

Tracking Traffic

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Jan-Feb air traffic shows the beginnings of a recovery in Chinese travel activity, but we're surprised to see outbound flights with load factors of...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

As China emerges from Covid, old challenges remain for Trip.com. After posting solid Q422 results and pointing to signs of a strong recovery, these...

Daniel Hellberg

China & HK Strategy: Stock Ideas on China's Debt Swap Plan

China's new debt swap quota will benefit local governments and infrastructure companies. Shanghai's consumption coupon distribution is positive for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Still-Solid Growth in September | Consider Airlines (October 2024)

Chinese domestic and outbound air travel continued to show solid growth in September and Q3. The airlines have managed capacity restoration well...

Tracking Traffic

Rebound in Int'l Demand & Benign Fuel Prices Could Support Recovery in Chinese Airlines' Share Perf

We believe improvement in Chinese outbound demand combined with benign fuel prices could lift shares of China's large state-owned airlines,...

Tracking Traffic